Nemesia plant named ‘Nemhrpur’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nemesia  plant named ‘Nemhrpur’ that is characterized by a semi-trailing and compact habit, purple-violet flowers, very early flowering and absolutely no seedset. In combination these characteristics set ‘Nemhrpur’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Nemesia  known to the inventor.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Nemesia hybrid.

Varietal denomination: ‘Nemhrpur’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant, botanically known as Nemesia hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Nemhrpur’.

The new Nemesia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The goals of the breeding program were to improve on plant habit by breeding plants that were more compact and basal branching. Earliness of flowering was another character that was very important in the breeding process, together with producing no seed-pods.

The new Nemesia originated from a cross-pollination made by the inventor in 2000 of an unpatented Nemesia plant, named ‘C225-1’, as the female, or seed, parent with an unpatented Nemesia hybrid-plant named ‘Nemhabar’, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar ‘Nemhrpur’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in 2001.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2001 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a two-year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Nemesia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Nemesia. The data that define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 10.5 cm container. Colour readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colour references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Nemhrpur’, its parents and a similar cultivar ‘Nemhrpur’ ‘C225-1’ ‘Nemhabar’ ‘Penmys’ Seedset No Plentiful No Plentiful Flower size Medium Small Medium Small Flower color Violet-purple Blue-pink Blue Light purple

The commercial name for the most resembling variety is ‘Blueberry Sachet.’ The patented name of this variety of ‘Penmys’ and its U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,794. The male parent ‘Nemhabar’ has U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11,005,102.

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Nemesia. Species: Hybrid.         -   Parentage.—Female parent: A seedling named ‘C225-1’ is one             of our seedlings from our C-generation of plants bred             in 2000. Pollen parent: A seedling named ‘Nemhabar’ is one             of our seedlings from our C-generation of plants bred in             2000.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-trailing and compact.         -   Plant height.—14-20 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—20-35 cm.         -   Strength.—Resistant to hot and cold weather. Plants have             been exposed to temperatures ranging from 0° C.-35° C.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Blooming period.—From April until November: The plant             displays very early flowering at 26-31 days after potting.         -   Propagation.—Vegetative stem cuttings.         -   Sexuality.—Hermaphrodite.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 days at             temperatures of 21 degrees centigrade is needed to produce             rooted cuttings.         -   Root system.—Numerous and fine, the color is N155A.         -   Disease and pest susceptibility and resistance.—There are no             disease problems known to the inventor other than what             affects typical Nemesia. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Length.—6-8 cm.         -   Shape.—Quadrilateral with ridges.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Color of the stem.—137D.         -   Length of internode.—10-25 mm, depending on the light where             the plant is propagated.         -   Pubescence.—Glabrous.         -   Length lateral branches.—8-12 cm. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.         -   Shape of blade.—Broadly ovate.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side: Glabrous.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.         -   Length.—15-30 mm.         -   Width.—12-25 mm.         -   Depth of incision.—1-2 mm.         -   Color.—Upper side: 141B. Lower side: 141C.         -   Length of leaf stem.—1-2 mm.         -   Petiole surface structure.—Glabrous.         -   Petiole diameter.—1-2 mm.         -   Petiole coloration.—Upper side: 141B. Lower side: 141C. -   The Bud     -   -   Peduncle length.—10-30 mm, depending on season.         -   Peduncle diameter.—2 mm.         -   Peduncle color.—141B.         -   Peduncle surface.—Glabrous.         -   Pedicel length.—4-12 mm.         -   Pedical diameter.—Less than 1 mm.         -   Pedicel color.—141B.         -   Pedicel surface.—Glabrous.         -   Stipule length.—1-3 mm.         -   Stipule width.—1-2 mm.         -   Stipule shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Stipule color.—Upper side: 137B. Lower side: 137C.         -   Bud size.—Diameter: 4 mm. Length: 3-5 mm.         -   Bud shape.—Globular.         -   Bud color.—N78C.         -   Bud surface.—Glabrous.         -   Sepals.—Color (upper side): 141B. Color (lower side): 141C.             Form: Upright. Surface: Glabrous. Number: 5, fused. Length:             1-2 mm. Width: Less than 1 mm. Shape: Elongated. Apex:             Apiculate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. -   The flower:     -   -   Type of inflorescence.—Axillary raceme.         -   Flower shape.—Personate.         -   Flower color.—Upper side: 70A to 70B. Lower side: 70C.         -   Palate color.—14A in the center and 14D to the right and             left sides of the center.         -   Nectary (located on underside of palate).—4 mm in width and             4 mm in length.         -   Nectary color.—N170D.         -   Throat color.—Upper surface: 161C. Lower surface: 163A.         -   Surface of upper lip.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side:             Glabrous.         -   Surface of lower lip.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side:             Glabrous.         -   Lip margin.—Lower lip: Entire. Upper lip: Entire.         -   Number of lips.—2.         -   Lobes.—Upper lip: 4. Lower lip: 1.         -   Lobes on upper lip fused or unfused.—Fused.         -   Upper and lower lips fused or unfused.—Basally fused.         -   Lip apex (upper lip).—Each lobe has a rounded apex.         -   Lip base (upper lip).—Truncate.         -   Lip apex (lower lip).—Obtuse.         -   Lip base (lower lip).—Truncate.         -   Upper lip color.—Upper side: 70A to 70B. Lower side: 70C.         -   Lower lip color.—Upper side: 70A to 70B. Lower side: 70C.         -   Flower dimensions.—1.2 cm in depth, 1.8 cm in length and 1.8             cm in width at the widest part.         -   Lower lip dimensions.—1 cm in length and 1.4 cm in width.         -   Upper lip dimensions.—1 cm in length and 1.8 cm in width.         -   Lobe dimensions (upper lip).—1 cm in length and 5 mm in             width.         -   Flower spur dimensions.—1.2 cm in length and 1-2 mm in             diameter.         -   Spur color.—158B.         -   Calyx dimensions.—4 mm in length and 7 mm in width.         -   Color of the calyx.—138B.         -   No. of flowers per inflorescence.—35-50.         -   Fragrance.—A very light perfume fragrance occurs.         -   Bloom time of one inflorescence.—New florets continue to             open in one inflorescence over a period of 30 days.         -   Lastingness of one flower.—3 to 7 days. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther             length: 0.5 mm. Anther width: 0.3 mm. Anther color: 144D.             Pollen amount: Scare pollen. Pollen color: 154D.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 3-5 mm.             Stigma color: 144C. Style length: 3-5 mm. Style color: 144D.             Ovary color: 144C. Ovary position: Superior. Ovary shape:             Pval. Ovary dimensions: 0.3 mm in width and 0.4 mm in             length.             No seedset is observed. 

1. A new and distinct Nemesia plant named ‘Nemhrpur’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 